Description: There were 7 new climbs put up in the winters of 2003 and 2004 in the Ethan Pond Area on Mt. Willey. You have to really love winter backcountry climbing to do these because to get to the ice it's a three & half mile hike.
Jon Sykes & Larry Boehmler hiked in on December 15, 2003. They spent the night in the leanto in 20 below temps with the wind blowing gale forces. The next day, December 16th, they did 3 FA climbs. Then they spent another night in frigid temps near 0 and did 1 climb on the 17th.

Directions: Start at the Ethan Pond Trail (Appalachian Trail) off Rt. 302 in Crawford Notch. Hike 3 miles on the Ethan Pond Trail to Ethan Pond and the leanto shelter. Follow marked trail behind the leanto for half mile to cliff. The ice is located on the southwest side of Mt Willey.

Climbing is a very dangerous sport. You can get hurt or even kill yourself. When you go climbing, you do so of your own free will. Everything on this site is to be taken with a grain of salt. Don't blame us if you get up some totally heinous route, in over your head and fall and hurt yourself.